Christopoulos, Andrew --- "President s page: Getting back to grassroots" [2019] PrecedentAULA 66; (2019) 155 Precedent 3

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GETTING BACK TO GRASSROOTS

By Andrew Christopoulos

There is nothing like a 25th anniversary to cause one to reflect upon times past, to take stock of where we are and to look forward to where we are going.

This year’s National Conference in Port Douglas was our largest conference for 15 years. It drew members and delegates from across the country, and importantly prompted re-engagement with founding members, past presidents and the ‘heavy lifters’ who laid our foundations and are largely responsible for establishing the integrity and respect that we enjoy as an association today.

What is evident in the afterglow of these celebrations is the importance of our grassroots, who we are and what we stand for.

We are ‘plaintiff lawyers’. A moniker that does not figure in our branding today, plaintiff lawyers are quite special – our values and purpose set us apart from other lawyers. We enjoy a different regard and respect for good reason: we protect the rights of those who do not have the ability or resources to do it themselves. In a world where alternative facts have become the norm and disregard grows for the independence of our judicial system, plaintiff lawyers are there to represent the premise of accountability.

What we do matters.

I believe that a good plaintiff lawyer is a custodian of the community’s legal and ethical values. We are not the enemy of business or progress. In fact, we are just the opposite. We protect the rights and freedom of people and business and endeavour to ensure that equality and fairness prevail.

It is true that the role and function of plaintiff lawyers have changed and will continue to change over time. As plaintiff lawyers, we should commit ourselves to improve and re-invent the way we do things so that we are better able to meet the evolving needs of our community and society. That may not be the easy or preferred approach. For many of us, the default is doing things the way we always have.

That is not the answer.

Change is not always easy, but it is necessary. We know only too well that insurers, corporations, regulators and those elected to represent the community take advantage of those who are inflexible and do not move with the times.

Regrettably, even among our members, finding those who are prepared to stand up and do the hard work can be a challenge. If we give up the fight, all I can see is the erosion of people’s rights, greater regulation and unreasonably applied limits on the exercise of fair legal rights and access to justice.

Plaintiff lawyers are essential proponents of equality before the law and play a critical role in safeguarding fairness for injured workers, those injured in motor accidents and other vulnerable members of the community. For our clients, we are their last line of defence.

The legal profession is an esteemed and honoured one, but to be a plaintiff lawyer is to help people effectively and with sensitivity; it means righting wrongs and protecting and promoting fairness.

If an anniversary can bring us together in record numbers, it should also oblige us to keep up the momentum of engagement and collaboration. I therefore encourage everyone to continue working with colleagues and peers, to foster connections with our regional practitioners, and to promote the succession of the younger members of our profession.

If we resolve to persevere in the fight for justice together, our continued success as an association will follow.

Andrew Christopoulos is an accredited personal injury law specialist and Principal of AC Lawyers: Sydney, NSW South Coast and the ACT. PHONE [phone] EMAIL [e-mail].